How do I make an eBay lesson plan?
June 18, 2007 12:40 PM Subscribe
How do I teach library patrons the basics of buying and selling on eBay?
Specifically, how do I go through the steps of listing an item or placing a bid without actually doing those things? I can make step-by-step handouts with screen shots, but ideally, the class should also involve physically going through the steps on the computers. Most of the students are at a basic level of computing, so practicing the steps will be vital to learning them.
I've scheduled two two-hour sessions on seperate days. Tentatively, day one will be making eBay accounts, showing them around the website, and maybe learning how to bid, if we have the time. Day two will be listing an item, bidding on an item (if it's not covered on Day one), and probably some PayPal stuff.
In case it matters, I'm working with Dell laptops using Windows XP. I'm also on a library budget, so I don't have a lot of programs available on the computers. I'll be using a projector that's hooked up to a laptop.
The world doesn't need any more bad ebayers. Please help me make an effective lesson plan!
Specifically, how do I go through the steps of listing an item or placing a bid without actually doing those things? I can make step-by-step handouts with screen shots, but ideally, the class should also involve physically going through the steps on the computers. Most of the students are at a basic level of computing, so practicing the steps will be vital to learning them.
I've scheduled two two-hour sessions on seperate days. Tentatively, day one will be making eBay accounts, showing them around the website, and maybe learning how to bid, if we have the time. Day two will be listing an item, bidding on an item (if it's not covered on Day one), and probably some PayPal stuff.
In case it matters, I'm working with Dell laptops using Windows XP. I'm also on a library budget, so I don't have a lot of programs available on the computers. I'll be using a projector that's hooked up to a laptop.
The world doesn't need any more bad ebayers. Please help me make an effective lesson plan!
Response by poster: It is a bit too late to change subjects, and the patrons have been demanding an eBay class.
I'm not entirely comfortable with "promoting" eBay either, but I'd rather teach people the right way to use eBay rather than have them try on their own and inevitably get scammed.
posted by english lit.ter bug at 1:23 PM on June 18, 2007
I'm not entirely comfortable with "promoting" eBay either, but I'd rather teach people the right way to use eBay rather than have them try on their own and inevitably get scammed.
posted by english lit.ter bug at 1:23 PM on June 18, 2007
You should be able to go through most of the steps of listing/bidding without actually completing the action. Find out how far you can go on your own (maybe with something you wouldn't mind parting with/owning, just in case), screen-shot it and take them through.
The first few times, do it as a presentation with them "helping you along", then you should be able to let them try it on their own (depending on the capability of the patrons).
posted by ODiV at 1:29 PM on June 18, 2007
The first few times, do it as a presentation with them "helping you along", then you should be able to let them try it on their own (depending on the capability of the patrons).
posted by ODiV at 1:29 PM on June 18, 2007
My library has a copy of 'eBay for Dummies' (381.17C)
You could use that kind of a book as an outline.
posted by MtDewd at 1:40 PM on June 18, 2007
You could use that kind of a book as an outline.
posted by MtDewd at 1:40 PM on June 18, 2007
You should successfully go through the process yourself a few times to get the feel of what works. An instructor that doesn't know the actual process tends to be less than useful especially when detailed questions start popping up.
When you seel something on Ebay, it pretty much steps you through the process at a basic level so if you've done that once or twice it should be all you need to teach someone else.
posted by JJ86 at 2:20 PM on June 18, 2007
When you seel something on Ebay, it pretty much steps you through the process at a basic level so if you've done that once or twice it should be all you need to teach someone else.
posted by JJ86 at 2:20 PM on June 18, 2007
Buying is easy:
You can go all the way to the end on ebay with bidding before you confirm your bid. Take screenshots, like ODlV said. You can blur out your ebay name.
Make sure you tell them about sniping, and the .29 rule. Stress the importance of feedback ratings and how most ebayers' ratings are inflated (I never bid on anything by anyone with less than 99% positive approval rating anymore). Point out that sellers typically use padded shipping costs. Go over paypal and other payment methods and explain the benefits.
Selling is much tougher. I would suggest you find someone in your area who has done well on ebay to come in and share with the class.
posted by misha at 2:21 PM on June 18, 2007
You can go all the way to the end on ebay with bidding before you confirm your bid. Take screenshots, like ODlV said. You can blur out your ebay name.
Make sure you tell them about sniping, and the .29 rule. Stress the importance of feedback ratings and how most ebayers' ratings are inflated (I never bid on anything by anyone with less than 99% positive approval rating anymore). Point out that sellers typically use padded shipping costs. Go over paypal and other payment methods and explain the benefits.
Selling is much tougher. I would suggest you find someone in your area who has done well on ebay to come in and share with the class.
posted by misha at 2:21 PM on June 18, 2007
I'm 1/3 of the way through this audio/slide show:
http://pages.ebay.com/education/selling.html
I've never sold anything and am kinda ebayignorant, and so far it seems pretty good.
But you definitely have to log in as a member to start going through the listing screens in reality.
posted by peacay at 3:31 PM on June 18, 2007
http://pages.ebay.com/education/selling.html
I've never sold anything and am kinda ebayignorant, and so far it seems pretty good.
But you definitely have to log in as a member to start going through the listing screens in reality.
posted by peacay at 3:31 PM on June 18, 2007
Isn't that where you have to bid at least 29 cents above the highest bid?
Good luck with the class. I think your biggest problem will be getting accounts for the people. Do you plan to have them actually create accounts?
posted by DMan at 4:48 PM on June 18, 2007
Good luck with the class. I think your biggest problem will be getting accounts for the people. Do you plan to have them actually create accounts?
posted by DMan at 4:48 PM on June 18, 2007
Hi -- I'm a librarian and I just taught a "how to buy and sell on ebay" class for my local adult education program. It's okay to prmote ebay because it's the brand that people know but I spent the first hour of my eight hour set of classes doing safety lectures and demos of phishing and other exploits that were potential problems. I'll link to a set of my handouts when I get back home. I have a few classes worth. It's very ambitious to try to get them through anything but getting an account (and what about paypal?) and learning to do a basic and advanced search for stuff. My class were average level users [could use a mouse, could type] and still we used up most of the eight hours just listing an item and learning to bid on other items. I'll be back in a bit with handouts and more info.
posted by jessamyn at 6:58 PM on June 18, 2007
posted by jessamyn at 6:58 PM on June 18, 2007
Best answer: Here are the handouts I used for my ebay class, feel free to use any of them you'd like. I also printed out a few screenshots form ebay that I thought were helpful including
- the site map page and went over what some of the links meant and where they could go for more information. It's a good overview of ebay and it's a little silly ot print out web pages but people seemed to like it.
- the my ebay page, same deal.
- ebay's pricing list, same deal, I can never remember what anything costs there. I always stess the Constant Upsell as something people need to look out for.
- the Advanced Search page and went over what a lot of the different parts of the search are including "search title and description" [hugely important for novice searchers] and also how to search past auctions.
In short, some people won't even be able to set up accounts and some will want to set up ebay stores immediately, You'll do well to have a stock "this is what this class is for" intro so people aren't thinking they're going to become power sellers in a week. You also may want to make some decisions about what to do about paypal [it's pretty integral to most people's ebay experience but also very confusing and ad-saturated to learn to use] and you might decide to break it up into two classes 1. Getting an Ebay Account and learning to search and 2. Using an ebay account.
I'd also suggest your library get a handful of books about ebay or online auctions generally that you can have available at your class for people to look through andor check out. Some people just aren't happy unless they have a print reference to refer to and ebay itself can be pretty daunting to use. If you have an account yourself i'd suggest using it as an example for people during your class. I did a sample sale in my class with something small and easy that I already had pictures for and just stepping through all the quesitons ebay asks you seemed to be something that people liked.
posted by jessamyn at 8:15 PM on June 18, 2007
- the site map page and went over what some of the links meant and where they could go for more information. It's a good overview of ebay and it's a little silly ot print out web pages but people seemed to like it.
- the my ebay page, same deal.
- ebay's pricing list, same deal, I can never remember what anything costs there. I always stess the Constant Upsell as something people need to look out for.
- the Advanced Search page and went over what a lot of the different parts of the search are including "search title and description" [hugely important for novice searchers] and also how to search past auctions.
In short, some people won't even be able to set up accounts and some will want to set up ebay stores immediately, You'll do well to have a stock "this is what this class is for" intro so people aren't thinking they're going to become power sellers in a week. You also may want to make some decisions about what to do about paypal [it's pretty integral to most people's ebay experience but also very confusing and ad-saturated to learn to use] and you might decide to break it up into two classes 1. Getting an Ebay Account and learning to search and 2. Using an ebay account.
I'd also suggest your library get a handful of books about ebay or online auctions generally that you can have available at your class for people to look through andor check out. Some people just aren't happy unless they have a print reference to refer to and ebay itself can be pretty daunting to use. If you have an account yourself i'd suggest using it as an example for people during your class. I did a sample sale in my class with something small and easy that I already had pictures for and just stepping through all the quesitons ebay asks you seemed to be something that people liked.
posted by jessamyn at 8:15 PM on June 18, 2007
You're a legend jessamyn! (Just in case noone told you today).
posted by peacay at 9:58 PM on June 18, 2007
posted by peacay at 9:58 PM on June 18, 2007
Definitely make sure that you spend significant time on the fact that there are plenty of scammers out there - as newbie ebay users who don't know their way around the internets will be prime targets. Particularly ensure that they know not to click on any links in emails that appear to come from ebay or paypal asking them to provide their account information.
posted by hazyjane at 2:34 AM on June 19, 2007
posted by hazyjane at 2:34 AM on June 19, 2007
« Older Pilot of the airwaves, here is my request. You... | You can't put a price on love, but let's say that... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
I'd hesitate to use eBay because 1) I'd be uncomfortable promoting a for-profit company with state money, and 2) I wouldn't want to end up feeling responsible for someone getting ripped off by some scammer.
posted by ODiV at 12:50 PM on June 18, 2007